The Maronite Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania gathered in faith and unity at St Maroun’s Cathedral, Redfern, on Sunday to celebrate the Feast of St Maroun and formally launch the 2026 Year of Prayer for Peace.
The Solemn Mass was presided over by Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, who reflected on the life and witness of St Maroun, describing him as “a lighthouse, guiding others to God.”
He noted the saint’s pastoral sensitivity, saying Maroun “spoke to the people where they were, and led them where God was calling them to be.”
Drawing on the Gospel, Bishop Tarabay reminded the faithful that authentic peace flows from self-gift rather than self-preservation.
“Whoever clings to life in a self-centred way will lose it, but whoever offers his life to God will preserve it for eternal life,” he said.
During the liturgy, Bishop Tarabay formally announced that 2026 will be observed across the Eparchy as the Year of Prayer for Peace under the theme, “My peace I give to you” (John 14:27).
He described the initiative as more than a program, calling it “a call to holiness,” and emphasised that lasting peace begins with conversion of heart.
“When Christ reigns in the heart, peace begins to grow,” he said, adding that such peace has the power to renew society.
At the conclusion of the Mass, representatives from Maronite parishes and colleges across Australia and New Zealand received commemorative candles blessed by Bishop Tarabay.
The candles will be placed in communities from Western Australia to Auckland, symbolising a shared commitment to prayer throughout 2026.
Bishop Tarabay also announced the upcoming opening of the Transformation Centre in Dooralong, NSW, a new initiative supporting those suffering from addiction, and the future opening of Saint Rita’s Church in Guildford.
The celebration was attended by the Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley, Cardinal Mykola Bychok, and other civic and religious leaders, reflecting both the faith and the enduring contribution of the Maronite community to Australia’s multicultural society.
